Improvement in self-adjusting telegraph-relays



1. B. STOMBS...

Self-Adjusting Telegraph Relays. N0. 144,157, Patented Oct-28,1873.

. NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOSEPH H. STOMBS, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA;

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 144,157, dated October 28, 1873; application filed July 9, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosEPH H. STOMBS, of \Vinona, in the county of WVinona and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Adjusting Telegraph-Instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable oth ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the let ters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of telegraphinstruments known as relays, though it may be applied to other instruments in which adjustment is required to compensate for the varying strength of the current. The object of the invention is to render the relay an automaticallyadjusting one, thus avoiding the necessity on the part of an operator, of constantly watching the instrument and changing the tension of the spring usually used. To this end, my invention consists in the device more particularly hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of the device, showing my invention. Fi 2 is a side elevation. of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side view of the perforated plate, showing the perforations through which the adjuster is acted upon by the magnets of the relay.

A A represent the usual magnets of a relay. U represents a perforated armature, fastened to the armaturelever a, which is pivoted at the bottom, as is usual with such levers. l) I) are curved steel wires, which. are supported on the post I), and whose ends 0 0 are attracted by the magnets B, and slide through the perforations in the armature O, and virtually form a second armature for the magnets A A. The post I) is pivoted at d d, and rocks back and forth to and from the magnets. A eord,f, or its equivalent, is attached to the top of the post I) by means of an adjustable screw, q, and the other end of the cord is attached, at h, to one end of the spring E, attached to a transverse axis pivoted at the point; e 6. At the other end of this spring is attached a cord, 6, fastened at its other end to the armature-lever a by means of an adjustable screw, j.

The operation of the relay thus constructed is as follows: When the operator closes the circuit the magnets B will attract the armature O, and cause the lever to to strike the stop 7c, the cord 0 pulling on the spring E. At the same time the magnets will attract the wires D D, and cause the cord f to pull on the other end of the spring E at h. As these cords are fastened at opposite ends to the spring E, it will be seen that the two armatures, viz., (l and the wires D, are constantly acting against each other when the magrets A A are charged-that is, each is tending to pull the other away from the magnets; but the relative power of the magnets on the armature (l and the wires 1) D will always be proportionate, whether the current be strong or weak. If the current be weak, the attraction on D I) being less, they will, through the rocking post I), and cord f, and rocking spring E, exert a less influence on cord 6, and therefore pull on the armaturelever a with less force. If the current be strong, the wires D D, through the same mediums mentioned, exert a greater in fluence on the cord 0, and tend to withdraw the armature O with greater force. The magnet thus acting on the cord f and spring E, through the wires D D, always in proportion to the strength of the current, makes the relay a completely automatically-adjusting one, not effected by the changes in the strength of the current.

1 claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the magnets A, perfo *ated armature 0, wires D supported on suit able rocking post, spring E, and suit able con necting-cords, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a relay-magnet, a rocking spring, E, connected to two distinct armatures operated by one magnet, substan-' tially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of June, 1873.

JOSEPH H. STOMBS.

Witnesses THOMAS SIMPSON, J. G. Ouawronn. 

